Shocking stories of bias in Bayonne draw comments from city honchos: Morgan's Corner

Some of the stories told by the 20 or so people who testified recently at a hearing in Bayonne hosted by a group associated with the Rev. Al Sharpton were downright chilling.

One man told of an alleged instance in which Bayonne police invaded his home and roughed up his daughter who, having just exited the shower, was only half-dressed. The barely clad woman called for her father's help, but the man, on the verge of tears as he told this story, said he was restrained by police.

A young Hispanic man said he was beaten and arrested by Bayonne police who mistook him for his brother.

The bulk of the complaints heard in a rear room of the Elks Club on March 14, mainly but not exclusively, involved the Bayonne Police Department, the Bayonne Housing Authority and the Bayonne Board of Education.

A black teacher testified that despite holding several advanced degrees and certifications, and receiving excellent job evaluations, she has been repeatedly passed over for promotion. In the meantime, whites she's trained have leapfrogged over her in Board of Ed hierarchy.

No Bayonne officials were on hand to refute the claims. They were intentionally asked not to attend so as not to inhibit the testimony, which was recorded, explained the Rev. Horace Sheffield, who heads the Detroit chapter of the Rev. Al Sharpton's National Action Network and chaired the meeting.

At some point, city officials will be given an opportunity to respond to the numerous allegations, Sheffield said. The current administration has denied any knowledge of racial discrimination.

About the allegation that a man was restrained by police while his daughter was manhandled, Jason O'Donnell, the assemblyman and the city's public safety director, said yesterday that no such complaint has crossed his desk.

"That's a serious charge. That is unconscionable," he said. "I have an 8-year-old daughter, the mayor has two daughters. I have to tell you something as heinous as that would be addressed immediately ... I don't know why I haven't been contacted as yet."

Caryl Vanbaaren, who was the subject of a housing discrimination story that appeared in The Jersey Journal a decade ago, was among those testifying. This time she spoke about alleged employment discrimination.

She complained about having been removed from her job as the director of faith-based programs in Bayonne and being given four hours to report to the city's Department of Public Works for reassignment to the recycling office.

Vanbaaren, an African American, said she was told the city could no longer afford to maintain the faith-based program.

But she testified she was the only staffer and she is still earning the same salary. The only change, she said, is that she is no longer a department director, reducing the number of minority department heads in the city to one.

The Bayonne Faith Based Center was an independent nonprofit corporation that Vanbaaren, a community relations specialist working for the city, was assigned to, Gallo said.

When funding for the nonprofit dried up, Vanbaaren was transferred with no loss of pay or benefits and no change of title, he said, adding that Vanbaaren continues to be employed by the City of Bayonne supervising the city's recycling program.

The longtime director of the Bayonne Free Public Library and Cultural Center is Sneh Bains, an Asian-American, Gallo points out.

A number of those who testified complained about the Bayonne Housing Authority, saying they face eviction even through they are long-term residents and don't have a history of being serial delinquents when it comes to paying their rent.

Earl Morgan of Morgan's Corner

Several Hispanic business people complained of difficulties they have had accessing federal loan dollars the city controls to lend to local minority businesses.

Sheffield said the complaints will be passed on to the U.S. Department of Justice and presented to a congressional committee.